Making its debut in Southeast Asia next March, the S$10 million musical will be the resident show at Marina Bay Sands.

The show will be staged at the specially-built Sands Theatre, which can seat 1,627 people.

Bringing the Disney classic to life is an international cast of 49.

Jonathan Andrew Hume, who has been involved in the London production for the last 10 years and has understudied the role of Simba, will now take centrestage as the lead lion.

And to get into character, the actors undergo intensive workshops.

Mr Hume explained: “Not just because we look like the lions, and we have the makeup and the costumes, but to also move like the lions as well. So we have all these workshops, where we go to the very basics – we are on the floor, crawling and moving just like lions.”

Disney said auditions are being held in Singapore and the Philippines to find six young leads to play young Simba and Nala.

Disney added that the children selected will undergo a special “cub” school to learn the music and dance numbers of the musical.

The production is also “Singapore specific”, with many of the sets, props and costumes built from scratch.

And the audience can look forward to a local flavour.

Stephen Crocker, senior marketing manager of Disney Theatrical Group, said: “There is one moment during Act 2 of the show, and in every city the show is played in…it is always a little bit like a joke reference to maybe a song that is known in that area.

“So each time it plays, during the rehearsal process, the cast bring forward ideas of what might be the best idea for that. So in Singapore, it will be the same.”

The musical is now into its 14th year.

Seen by more than 53 million people worldwide, the Lion King Musical promises to be a visual extravaganza. With stunning costumes and an original score, the African savannah will be recreated in Singapore.

The musical will have eight performances a week.

Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday. Ticket prices start from S$65 and go up to S$240 for the most expensive tickets. – CNA/ms